UNEMPLOYMENT has dropped in Dorset, new figures reveal.

The Department for Work and Pensions said the unemployment rate for all areas of Dorset had fallen according to Labour market Statistics and cited a number of initiatives being progressed by local Jobcentre Plus staff to help people get jobs or go into training.

The current unemployment rate for Weymouth and Portland stands at 461 compared to 629 this time last year. This drop includes 45 young people who are no longer unemployed.

Meanwhile in West Dorset the unemployment rate is down 41 to 314 (including 30 young people) and in North Dorset it is down 16 to 219 (including 15 young people).

DWP partnership manager for Dorset Amanda Buttle welcomed the figures, including news there was fewer jobless young people.

She said: "Within Dorset we're always striving to secure provision to help our clients that are unemployed and we work closely with the Prince's Trust and those that provide training and apprenticeships.

"We've very keen to offer work experience and encourage employers to take on young people with work experience."

Mrs Buttle said the Jobcentre Plus had recently launched a campaign

The figures for the rest of the Dorset County Council area excluding Bournemouth and Poole show the unemployment rate is re are 323 fewer people unemployed including 120 youngsters (down from a total

Unemployment in the South West rose by 5,000 in the quarter to June, official figures have revealed.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a total of 124,000 people were unemployed in the region between April and June.

The region's unemployment rate was 4.4% and saw an increase of 4.2% during the period.

Nationwide, unemployment increased for the second month in a row, reaching 1.85 million.

The jobless total went up by 25,000 in the quarter, the first time there have been two consecutive rises for two years.

The ONS said it was possible the jobs market was ''levelling off''.

Other figures showed that the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance fell by 4,900 last month to 792,400 following a slight increase in June.

There were 31 million people in work in the latest quarter, 63,000 fewer than the three months to March, but 354,000 more than a year ago.

A record 14.5 million women are in work, while employment for men slumped by 71,000 to just under 16.5 million compared with the previous quarter.

ONS statistician David Freeman said: ''This is now the second consecutive time we've reported fewer people in work on the quarter.

''While it's too early to conclude that the jobs market is levelling off, these figures certainly strengthen that possibility. Growth in pay, however, remains solid.''

Average earnings increased by 2.4% in the year to June, down by 0.8% on the previous month, but still ahead of inflation.

The number of people classed as economically inactive, including those on long-term sick leave or who have given up looking for work, has increased by 7,000 to just under nine million.

The number of UK nationals in work between April and June increased by 84,000 compared with a year ago to 27.7 million. The total for non-UK nationals increased by 257,000 to 3.1 million.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: ''Thanks to our long term economic plan we have already seen two million more people in jobs since 2010. On top of that, today's figures show job vacancies at a near record high - evidence of the continued confidence of British businesses, and potential for further growth in the UK economy.

''Our one nation government is helping millions across the country to succeed and achieve their full potential. I was particularly pleased to see that wages are continuing to rise - meaning that hardworking people will see a real difference in their pay packets.''

The Government pointed out there were nearly two million more people in work than in 2010, with almost half a million more jobs in the private sector over the last year.

Unemployment has fallen by 221,000 in the last year, and long-term unemployment has been cut by more than 210,000 since 2010

There are job 735,000 vacancies, an increase of nearly 70,000 since last year. The claimant count has fallen by more than by more than 200,000 in the last year.